Andalite terminology
Encyclopedia
A compilation of Andalite
terminology used throughout the Animorphs
series.
Andalite
The Andalites are a fictional alien race of grazers in the Scholastic book series Animorphs.-Biology:The Andalites are fictional aliens from the book series and TV series Animorphs....
terminology used throughout the Animorphs
Animorphs
Animorphs is an English language science fiction series of young adult books written by K. A. Applegate and published by Scholastic. Five humans, Jake, Marco, Cassie, Rachel, and Tobias, and one alien, Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill , obtain the ability to morph into any animal they touch. They name...
series.
- Andalite Homeworld: The name of the native planet of the Andalites is not given in the series, and is simply referred to as the Andalite homeworld. It possesses more than one sun, which gives its sky a red-gold hue, and the planet is covered with less water as compared to Earth. The planet also has four moons which according to Aximili can make the night sky almost as bright as daytime when all are full. The landscape mainly consists of gently rolling hills and plains, where the Andalites live in family groups and small tribal bands, in keeping with their ancestral roots as a grazing species. Advanced cities exists in the form of three great spaceports.
- Aristh: Andalite word similar to cadet. An aristh is of the lowest rank in the Andalite military, and must, by definition, serve under a prince.
- Derrishoul Tree: An asparagus-shaped Andalite tree.
- Death Ritual: Ritual undertaken by Andalite warriors who are in danger of immediate death. It reads as follows; I am the servant of the people, I am the servant of my prince, I am the servant of honor. My life is not my own, when the people have need of it. My life is given for the people, for my prince, and for my honor.
- Dome Ship: The Andalite capital ship. Shaped similar to a mushroom, a Dome ship features a large park enclosed by a dome at the top of the ship, with an environment similar to that of the Andalite homeworld. The three engines are located at the bottom end of the ship. The domed park and the engines are connected by a long, narrow shaft, which is the main section of the ship and houses the bridge as well as weapons systems. The pride of the Andalite navy, a fleet of Dome ships are said to be nearly invincible. Four Dome Ships are named in the series: StarSword (TACThe Andalite ChroniclesThe Andalite Chronicles is a science-fiction novel, and is the first companion book to the Animorphs series, written by K. A. Applegate. Within the timeline of the series, this book takes place before the first book in the series, The Invasion...
), GalaxyTree (books 1The Invasion (Animorphs)The Invasion, published in 1996 and written by K. A. Applegate, is the first book in the Animorphs series. It is narrated by Jake.-Plot summary:...
and 8The Alien (Animorphs)The Alien is the eighth book in the Animorphs series, written by K. A. Applegate. It is the first book narrated by Ax.-Plot:...
), TailStrike, and The Elfangor (book 54The Beginning (Animorphs)The Beginning is the fifty-fourth and final book in the Animorphs series. Unlike other Animorphs books in the main series, but similar to the Megamorphs, all characters conduct narration instead of just one.-Plot summary:...
).
- Enos Emarf: A word used to describe the way a tree is framed in water.
- Elupera: A location on the Andalite home world with shorelines and rocky outcroppings.
- Escafil DeviceEscafil deviceThe Escafil device is a fictional technological apparatus from K.A. Applegate's popular children's book series Animorphs. It is the proper name for the "Andalite morphing cube", a device that when operated gives the user the ability to 'acquire' a copy of DNA patterns from any animal that physical...
: The device invented by Andalites which allows anyone who touches it to absorb the DNA of an animal and morph. Also known as the "blue box" or the "morphing cube".
- Estreen: An estreen is someone who is superbly skilled at morphing. After they are imparted with the ability to morph, morphing comes naturally to them. CassieCassie (Animorphs)Cassie is a fictional character from the sci-fi book series Animorphs, written by K. A. Applegate. Her last name is never mentioned, although she referred to it as being "nice" in The Secret.-Biography:...
is one such person; she can control the order and appearance of the morphing process and also morphs faster than the others, even AxAximili-Esgarrouth-IsthillAximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill is a fictional character from the sci-fi book series Animorphs.-Biography:Aximili is a young Andalite who becomes stranded on Earth when the Andalite Dome Ship GalaxyTree is shot down by Yeerk fighters...
the Andalite (though it should be mentioned that Ax makes clear that the ability to morph has no bearing on which species the morpher belongs to). Professional estreens called morph dancers exist on the Andalite world for entertainment.
- Evening ritual: To begin the evening ritual, an Andalite first looks at the last bits of color coming from the sun setting below the horizon. Then they say: From the rising of the sun to the setting, to its rising again, we place what is hard to endure with what is sweet to remember, and find peace.
- Flaar: An Andalite animal which smells similar to a human.
- Frolis Maneuver: A technique for combining the DNA of animals to create a "blended average" of them. Used by Elfangor-Sirinial-ShamtulElfangor-Sirinial-ShamtulElfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul is a character in K. A. Applegate's book series Animorphs. He is of an alien race known as the Andalites. His adventures are highlighted in the book called The Andalite Chronicles, which takes place before the main Animorphs series.Elfangor is an Andalite war-prince, who...
to create his human morph, and also by AxAximili-Esgarrouth-IsthillAximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill is a fictional character from the sci-fi book series Animorphs.-Biography:Aximili is a young Andalite who becomes stranded on Earth when the Andalite Dome Ship GalaxyTree is shot down by Yeerk fighters...
to create his. Presumably, Visser ThreeVisser ThreeVisser Three, born as Esplin 9466 Primary and later known as Visser One, is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the sci-fi book series Animorphs, written by K.A. Applegate. He is the leader of the Yeerk forces on Earth, having inherited the planet from Edriss 562, who was Visser One at...
used this technique to create his human, "Aria", morph.
- Galard: The language of interstellar trade used by the Andalites, Hork-Bajir, Yeerks, Skrit-Na and Taxxons. The Yeerks borrowed it from their Ongachic hosts, because it was easier for Gedd hosts to speak it rather than the Yeerk language (clicks and ultrasonic squeaks).
- Garmitof
- Hala Fala: Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul's Guide Tree, a type of tree on the Andalite homeworld that seemed to be capable of simple communication.
- Hald Wurra: Old Andalite for 'victory in three swipes'. It refers to a specific tail-fighting maneuver.
- Hereth Illint: This Andalite phrase translates roughly to "burping DNA", and refers to the expulsion of acquired DNA that the morpher has an allergy to. This entails the creation of an entirely new animal from the expelled DNA from excess mass in Z-space. The "burp" is a response to the loss of morphing control caused by DNA allergies.
- Hirac Delest: An Andalite's final statement, recorded that the Andalite's peers and posterity might judge and understand the Andalite's life and the choices he or she made.
- Illsipar Root: A species of plant which can be consumed to ease the pain of Soola's Disease. Also a delicacy.
- Ixcila: A electronic copy of a sentient being's brain waves, effectively saving their memories and personality. May be an ArnArn (Animorphs)The Arn are fictional creatures from the Animorphs book series. The Arns' physiology somewhat resembles that of birds . It is possible that the Arn were the galaxy's masters of biological innovation. Interestingly, this race created an entire ecosystem after an asteroid destroyed much of the life...
rather than Andalite technology.
- Jahar: The disgraced prince Alloran-Semitur-Corass's custom starfighter, named after his wife. It is much sleeker in design than regular Andalite fighters, and possesses three engines instead of the regular two. Notable features include a grass-covered floor, excellent motion compensators, and emergency air hoods that give occupants several minutes of breathable air in the event of cabin decompression.
- Kafit Bird: A species of bird of the Andalite homeworld with three pairs of wings, which affords it great maneuverability and speed. One out of the only three species of bird that exist on the homeworld, and widely considered the best.
- -kala: Andalite suffix attached to a first name indicating affection, usually on children of a parent.
- Mirrorwave Call: A form of thought-speak used to communicate with other Andalites en masse and across great distances.
- Modular Waste Disposal System: Essentially an Andalite toilet, encountered in book 14, The UnknownThe Unknown (Animorphs)The Unknown is the fourteenth book in the Animorphs series, written by K.A. Applegate. It is narrated by Cassie.The front cover quote is, "Never underestimate the power of a morph....". All books after The Unknown were dedicated to Applegate's son, Jake, as well as her husband and co-writer, Michael...
. The MWDS is the alien "vessel" stored at Zone 91, an Animorphs-universe equivalent to the alien technology supposedly concealed at Area 51Area 51Area 51 is a military base, and a remote detachment of Edwards Air Force Base. It is located in the southern portion of Nevada in the western United States, 83 miles north-northwest of downtown Las Vegas. Situated at its center, on the southern shore of Groom Lake, is a large military airfield...
.
- Morning Ritual: An Andalite warrior, at the beginning of the day, performs the following ritual; They say "From the grass that feeds us" while crunching grass under their hoof, then say "From the water that gives us life" while dipping the same hoof into a body of water. Then, they say "For the freedom that unites us, we look to the stars." While spreading their arms wide. Then, they say "Freedom is my only cause, service to my prince, my only duty. The destruction of my enemies, my most solemn vow. I, (insert name), offer my life." This is the closing section of the ritual, where the Andalite warrior puts his own blade to his throat, and asks himself if he is doing his duty.
- Notallssith: The condition of being unable to control a morph
- NothlitNothlitIn the fictional Animorphs series by K. A. Applegate, a nothlit is a being trapped in a morph. If one stays in a morph for over two Earth hours, that form becomes permanent. They are unable to use the Escafil device to regain their morphing power...
: A person that has stayed in morphed form for longer than the two-hour time limit; and is therefore forced to remain in that form indefinitely (barring higher interference, as the EllimistEllimistThe Ellimist is a fictional character from the science fiction novel series Animorphs.The Ellimist is an almost god-like being, displaying many reality warping powers, though it is stated several times that while he appears to be, he is not omnipotent. By standard values, the Ellimist is a force of...
has reinstated the true form/morphing power of Elfangor and TobiasTobias (Animorphs)Tobias is a fictional character from the sci-fi book series Animorphs written by K.A. Applegate. His surname is never mentioned, but had the Ellimist not altered time in order to take his father, Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul, back to his old life, his full name would have been Tobias Fangor, the...
). Or,in the case of Cassie, if you stay in a morph that goes through metamorphosis (Ex. when Cassie morphed into a caterpillar in book #19 and when she turned into a butterfly from a caterpillar) Ax told the group that natural morphing resets the biological morphing clock.
- Onkalillium: A type of Andalite organic medicine.
- Plintconarythmic physics: The highest level of study in Andalite physics. Reserved for the elite in the Andalite scientific community - but Estrid-Corill-Darrath understands it perfectly. She tries to explain to Ax the functions and limitations of human speech in the 'n' dimensions, but it sweeps over the top of his head.
- Prince: An Andalite military rank, it does not refer to royalty. Each warrior serves under an Andalite prince, variations include 'War-Prince' and 'Captain-Prince'. In the series Ax continually refers to Jake as 'Prince Jake' as the group considers him to be the leader of the Animorphs.
- Quantum virus: A biological weapon designed by Andalite military scientists that can affect only one specified species. Such a virus was used on the Hork-BajirHork-BajirThe Hork-Bajir are a race of aliens in the Animorphs novels.The Hork-Bajir are fictional aliens that are usually about seven feet tall. They are a dark shade of green and have three-toed theropod feet. Their necks are long and they have a mouth that resembles a falcon's beak with teeth. Their legs...
homeworld near the end of the battle with the YeerkYeerkYeerks are a fictional extraterrestrial species from the book and television series "Animorphs" written by K. A. Applegate and published by Scholastic.-Biology:...
s for control of the planet by Alloran-Semitur-Corass, in a futile attempt to limit the number of healthy Hork-Bajir hosts for the Yeerks to infest. The use of such a weapon is considered to be ethically unjust by the larger Andalite society, most of whom believe that reports of the use of the virus on the Hork-Bajir are merely Yeerk propaganda.
- Sario Rip: A tear in the fabric of space-time that causes one to travel forward or backward in time. An extremely large, intense concentration of energy is required to cause one of these rips. The direction and distance one will travel in time when using these is unknown.
- Seerow's Kindness: An Andalite law that forbids Andalites from giving technology to any foreign species. Named so after Prince Seerow, who pitied the Yeerks in their natural state and taught them about the universe. The resulting destruction caused by Yeerk conquest made this one of the most important and fundamental laws of Andalite society.
- Soola's Disease: An Andalite disease which causes blindness and muscular degeneration in its sufferers, culminating in a slow and painful death. There is no cure but to morph another Andalite without the disease and overstay the 2-hour limit.
- Shorm: The actual Andalite word for a tail-blade, although it is more commonly used as an equivalent in the Andalite language for 'best friend'. An Andalite is said to fully trust a shorm should he be allowed to place a blade at their throat.
- Shormitor: Tail-blade carvings made by primitive Andalites.
- Shredder: An Andalite built directed energy weapon. Although it is more powerful and efficient than the Yeerk-built Dracon beam, it is actually from this weapon that the Yeerk-built counterpart was developed. In contrast to the Dracon beam, which causes intense pain, the shredder weapon destroys its targets fairly quickly and painlessly. These weapons come in varying levels of intensity, ranging from simple hand-held sidearms to the main weapons used on the mighty Andalite Dome Ships, capable of 'punching a hole through a moon.'
- StarSword: The Dome ship on which Elfangor serves as an aristh in the beginning of The Andalite Chronicles.
- Torf: The torf is an andalite tail-fighting technique that involves using the flat side of one's tail blade to strike the adversary's temple. According to AxAximili-Esgarrouth-IsthillAximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill is a fictional character from the sci-fi book series Animorphs.-Biography:Aximili is a young Andalite who becomes stranded on Earth when the Andalite Dome Ship GalaxyTree is shot down by Yeerk fighters...
, it isn't much use against stronger creatures like Hork-Bajir, but it will knock a human out cold for hours.
- The Abomination: A term for the only Andalite Yeerk controller in existence—Visser ThreeVisser ThreeVisser Three, born as Esplin 9466 Primary and later known as Visser One, is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the sci-fi book series Animorphs, written by K.A. Applegate. He is the leader of the Yeerk forces on Earth, having inherited the planet from Edriss 562, who was Visser One at...
, who infests the body of Alloran-Semitur-Corrass.
- Therant: A species of Andalite tree with pink leaves.
- Thought-speak: Thought-speak is the method of communication of the Andalites similar to telepathy. The Andalites use this means of communication. Those who have morphed using Andalite morphing technology can also communicate using thoughtspeak, but not in their natural forms. Thought-speak works on a level higher than words, so lingual barriers are not a problem. In the Animorphs book series thought speak is represented by < and > (bracketBracketBrackets are tall punctuation marks used in matched pairs within text, to set apart or interject other text. In the United States, "bracket" usually refers specifically to the "square" or "box" type.-List of types:...
s) instead of quotation markQuotation markQuotation marks or inverted commas are punctuation marks at the beginning and end of a quotation, direct speech, literal title or name. Quotation marks can also be used to indicate a different meaning of a word or phrase than the one typically associated with it and are often used to express irony...
s (").
- Tria Gland: The tria gland is the Andalite equivalent of an appendix, located in the back of their head. Ax's tria gland became infected and had to be removed by CassieCassie (Animorphs)Cassie is a fictional character from the sci-fi book series Animorphs, written by K. A. Applegate. Her last name is never mentioned, although she referred to it as being "nice" in The Secret.-Biography:...
with the aid of Erek KingErek KingErek King is a fictional character from the Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate. He is a member of the Chee, a pacifistic android race created by the Pemalites. Erek King was the name of a real Animorphs fan who won a competition on the Animorphs Official Site to have his name included in one of...
.
- UAST: The UniversityUniversityA university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
of Advanced Scientific Thinkers, an institution for the best of Andalite intellectuals.
- Unit O: An elite Andalite military unit, specialising in covert operations.
- Unschweet: A haircut given to disgraced Andalites. When an Andalite warrior commits a misdeed, his or her commanding officer uses his tail blade to cut off a patch of fur from the offending warrior. This bare patch serves as a mark of shame representing the warrior's offense. As the fur grows back, the Andalite is slowly redeemed by time and experience, until, finally, the incident is laid to rest and the warrior is whole again.
- Utzum: Andalite belief of a vision at the time of death to help ease them as they "cross over".
- Vecol: An Andalite with a disability, such as being without a tail blade. They are shunned from their society and often sent into exile, viewed as inferior and useless to society. The reason behind such treatment is that Andalites believe the solitude of a vecol is the only dignity he or she has left. Ax exhibits distaste for vecols. The term was introduced in #40: The Other, where a vecol is central to the plot of the story.
- Wish-flower ritual: A ritualRitualA ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers....
performed before the birth of a younger sibling.
- Yamphut: A "morphing sickness" affecting the Tria gland that all of the Animorphs (except for Cassie) became infected with. Although it only causes flu-like symptoms in humans, it can be fatal to Andalites.
- Yaolin: A curse word, used in a similar fashion to "what in hellHellIn many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
" e.g., "What in yaolin are you doing here?!"
- Z-space: Short for zero-space, it is the non-dimensionZero-dimensional spaceIn mathematics, a zero-dimensional topological space is a topological space that has dimension zero with respect to one of several inequivalent notions of assigning a dimension to a given topological space...
through which faster-than light travel and communication is possible. A person in zero-space will see white, as opposed to the black of normal space. When morphing small animals, one's excess mass is extruded into zero-space. It's stated to contain some mass in an unknown form, which is used when someone morphs into an animal bigger than their own body. See also the Star TrekStar TrekStar Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
concept of warpWarp drive (Star Trek)Warp drive is a faster-than-light propulsion system in the setting of many science fiction works, most notably Star Trek. A spacecraft equipped with a warp drive may travel at velocities greater than that of light by many orders of magnitude, while circumventing the relativistic problem of time...
and subspaceSubspace (Star Trek)In the Star Trek fictional universe, subspace is a feature of space-time which facilitates faster-than-light transit, in the form of interstellar travel or the transmission of information. Subspace obeys different laws of physics...
.
- Z-space transponder: A small electrical component similar to a diode that converts matter/energy into a format that can be transmitted through Z-space